From all indications, the outlook is very positive for the Pine Beltís real estate market.

Betty Jo Ison, president of the Hattiesburg Area Association of Realtors, provided some insight into the local market.

Q. How is the Hattiesburg real estate market starting off this year?

A. I feel like it is starting off with a bang. There have already been more than 100 sales contracts written within our MLS (Multi Listing Service) since the first of the year, and in comparing to last January where 73 houses were sold, thatís really great.

Q. What is your 2013 prediction for the market?

A. The general feeling is itís going to be better than last year. Home ownership is so affordable ó you can get more for your money. Interest rates are low, around 3 percent. Itís an excellent time to buy a home.

Q. What are the popular areas that buyers are interested in? Why are those areas so appealing?

A. We cover a six-county area and each area is unique. So if youíre looking for a particular school for your child to attend, then you might look at one of our top-rated school districts.

If youíre a retiree, then you might look for a home close to some of our wonderful medical facilities, or the universities for the many amenities that they have to offer, or some of our golfing communities.

Perhaps you might enjoy living in some of the newly developed areas downtown, or maybe choose something close to your job.

Q. What are the median selling prices of homes in the Pine Belt?

A. The average for 2012 was around $130,000.

Q. Are builders constructing new homes or does the market consist of already existing homes?

A. Yes, there are some new constructions, but a large majority of sales are for already existing homes. Last year 1,310 homes were sold through our MLS, and 116 of those were new construction.

Q. On average, how long may a house sit on the market?

A. Last year, average days on market were 96, down from 2011ís average of 112 days.

Q. What are some of the important things you tell prospective home buyers when looking to buy in the Pine Belt?

A. We have such a diversified community. No matter what youíre looking for it can be found here. We still have that small town feel with big town amenities.

Economically we have a large medical community; we also have two universities, the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University.

We have Camp Shelby and a lot of private businesses, so we are very diversified in our economy. We have some wonderful retiree and golfing communities also. Thereís just a lot to do here, and you can enjoy a good life in the Pine Belt.